Fiction. Unlike his older sister Ursula, heroine of Life After Life, Teddy Todd is born just once, although his existence encompasses multiple, overlapping roles. Skipping back and forth in time, sometimes within the span of a paragraph, A God in Ruins follows Teddy's journey from boy to man, from dashing RAF pilot to stoic veteran, and from husband and father to grandfather. Complex characters and a moving, multilayered narrative distinguish this meditation on war and its effects on people and society.

History. The United States was never a foregone conclusion. In 1776, explains historian Joseph Ellis, 13 American colonies joined forces in a temporary alliance against the British Empire. Nationhood was never the goal, and once the war ended, the individual colonies could have gone their separate ways, were it not for the efforts of four influential men: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. Profiling his subjects and identifying their individual contributions, Ellis skillfully traces America's "transition from confederation to nation."

Biography. Bachelor brother bicycle mechanics pursue their shared passion for aviation, becoming pioneers in the nascent industry of commercial human flight. This biography by by Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning author David McCullough introduces Orville and Wilbur Wright; describes their unconventional upbringing in Dayton, Ohio; and examines how their distinct personalities coupled with complementary strengths and weaknesses enabled the duo to achieve their ambitions and shape the course of history.

Fiction. Born with "midnight black" skin, Lula Ann Bridewell horrifies her mother, Sweetness, whose own complexion is light enough to pass for white. Growing up without physical affection or emotional support, Lula Ann carries the pain of her mother's rejection as she reinvents herself as "Bride," the glamorous businesswoman who has just launched her signature high-end cosmetics line. But when Lula Ann's troubled past catches up to her, she'll have to face her inner demons. Infusing her narrative with magical realism as well as keenly observed details of contemporary American life, author Toni Morrison explores family relationships, race, and identity.

Horror. Twelve-year-old Oskar is lonely, incontinent, and obsessed with collecting clippings for his scrapbook of gruesome crimes. Bullied at school and neglected at home, Oskar remains friendless until Eli moves in next door. Deathly pale and androgynous, the enigmatic Eli lives with a man who may or may not be her father, doesn't attend school, and only goes out at night. Both outcasts, Eli and Oskar form a strong bond that only intensifies as a bizarre series of murders rock their otherwise sleepy Stockholm suburb. Also known as Let the Right One In, Let Me Inhas been adapted into two movies, one Swedish (2008), one American (2010).

Horror. "I can't wait to break your heart," declares 14-year-old Joey Peacock as he leads listeners into the tunnels beneath the New York City subway system, where the vampires live. In the decades since he was "turned," Joey has learned to rely on his wits to survive on the streets and use his wholesome good looks to lure human prey. It's a good life, until the summer of 1978, when Joey encounters a pack of feral child vampires whose reckless lifestyle could endanger the entire vampire community. Gritty, disturbing, and darkly humorous, The Lesser Dead gives listeners chills through slow-building suspense and engaging first-person narration.

Horror. Melanie is a special little girl. So special that she has her own cell in a maximum-security compound. So special that armed guards escort her to class each morning, strapping Melanie to her chair so that she won't bite anyone. So special that, when zombie-esque "hungries" invade the compound, her captors -- a teacher and a research scientist -- bring her with them as they escape. As she navigates the post-apocalyptic world beyond the walls, Melanie discovers more about who she is, and who she could become.

Horror. Orsk, the "all-American furniture superstore in Scandinavian drag," serves its customers' needs from cradle to grave. At Orsk Location #00108 in Cleveland, Ohio, a group of employees -- sorry, "partners" -- volunteer to spend an overnight shift investigating strange, possibly paranormal events inside the store. From dusk until dawn, a trio of misfits -- armed with nothing but the promise of double overtime -- must navigate the increasingly creepy showroom floor, explore the hidden dangers of the self-service warehouse, and attempt to survive until morning.

Horror. Driving a 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith that sports the license plate NOS4A2, Charles Talent Manx abducts children and spirits them away to Christmasland, the creepiest place in this world or any other. Over the years, Manx adds numerous youngsters to his macabre collection -- with the notable exception of Victoria "Vic" McQueen, whose unusual powers enable her to escape his clutches. Years later, Manx kidnaps Vic's young son, forcing her to face her childhood nightmares in order to save her child's life.

Horror. "You are saving their lives for a life not worth living." Five years after the world ends, Malorie's greatest fear is that her desire to give her children a better life will get them killed. At four years old, Boy and Girl have never left the boarded up house in which they were born, never seen the sky or looked out a window. This is because going outside -- or even looking outside -- means risking exposure to a mysterious force that turns ordinary humans into rampaging monsters. However, there is one possible way out: Malorie and her children must survive a 20-mile trip downriver, blindfolded, where they may or may not find safety.